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I’m traveling to Washington DC with my daughter’s school group. We’re looking forward to a really fun time! I looked back on some photos from our family’s 2016 DC vacation, and enjoyed remembering those adventures. If you don’t have a beach trip planned this summer, why not take a day trip near your home?
Admire architecture
Visit some beautiful buildings near your home and find some of the most beautiful features. Lovely ceilings and unusual doors are not limited to big cities! Find some historic buildings within driving distance and take some photos.
Try A New Restaurant
If a big trip isn’t in the budget, save some money for a dinner in a restaurant you’ve never visited. You just might find a new favorite! We were surprised at the food options at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History cafeteria. My lunch consisted of a lobster roll, homemade coleslaw, and heirloom tomato salad. It was delicious and cost less than a similar meal would have been in a bistro.
We also went to the Capital City Brewing Co. during our Washington trip. This was an surprising choice for our family because we don’t drink alcohol. Still, it had good reviews on TripAdvisor and was within walking distance from our hotel. My meal, shown below, was delicious. I ordered fish and chips with a cup of soup. The server also brought us soft pretzels to enjoy before our meal arrived. There was a fun family-friendly atmosphere, with TVs and music keeping the noise level comfortable for conversation. If we hadn’t tried something new, I would have definitely missed this great meal.
Visit a Musuem
Not every museum features art! We enjoyed our trip to the International Spy Museum. It was full of amazing spyware, and challenged us to think differently. Do you have a museum near your home? We have several historic homes, the Biltmore Estate, and a fossil site.
Enjoy the part of the world where you live! Even if you’re not headed out of town this summer, find something new in your town to visit.
Tell us about a good day trip destination in your area!
My favorite day trip is going to Six Flags St. Louis, which is only a couple hours away. Thanks.
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My favorite day trip is going to Frankenmuth, MI. It’s such a fun town to visit, great food and neat stores to shop at.
We like going to Phoenix for the day. We visit the children’s museum and do some shopping.
We can get to Lake Geneva WI is less than an hour of easy driving-no traffic. We like to hike around the lake and have a meal or ice cream afterwards.
When you don’t have reliable transportation, even just going to the grocery store seems like a day trip lol.
(Take a Day Trip – try these tips) My hubby and I actually go on little weekend trips up in to Wisconsin to visit our kids and grandson. We always have a good time just getting away for a bit.
There are so many things to do in Chicago! I like going to The Museum of Science and Industry. This is an all day activity and more! I have fun while learning! Kids do too.
Nice tips to use when on day trip
I am loving the food
I would love to visit and that food looks amazing,
There’s so much to do in D.C. I could spend weeks there and not run out of things to see.
I live in San Diego so we are always going to the beach! I love the tip to try out new restuarants, and Balboa Park is a great place for architecture and museums!
These are wonderful tips and I do like to try new restaurants. A fun day trip for me is to New York City.
Day trips are great. Old Salem in Winston Salem, NC is a good place to see
Going to the Georgia Aquariun in Atlanta is a great day trip.
We have a lot of hiking trails here in Vermont and a perfect day for my hubby and I is hiking
we love going to the local museums and nature trails; thanks for all of the ideas!
We love day trips! We go to local marvels such as the abandoned turnpike or hiking trails. I love the idea of going to a museum now that the weather is getting colder.
Another day trip I like is going to is the Indiana Dunes.
I went to DC many years ago and had the best brunch and then the best all you can eat seafood buffet in the evening. I would go back just for that!
I love to go anywhere beautiful on a vacation. A one day trip would be great to the trails of western Illinois.
A day trip to New Orleans is a great way to enjoy a day off, with great food!
We enjoy going to the Childrens’ Museum. Loads of learning and even more fun to be had. Great rainy day activity too.
I love the day trips, they are short and sweet and no having to pack.
This is very inspiring and reminds me that I need to get out more. Thanks for posting!
My kids love when I take them on day trips.
I have never been to Washington DC and it is on my bucket list.
The husband and i love trying new places to eat out at
I live in a resort town and often forget that people from all over the world travel here to do exciting things and yet I seldom take advantage of my location.
It’s always fun to take a day trip to Amish country to shop at the bulk food stores and have a nice lunch.
There is the area of Galena Illinois that is about 3-4 hours away and has quaint shops and restaurants.
We take a day trip every year to Sliding Rock and have a cookout and slide all day.
a day trip is always fun whether it be for shopping and or museums. we try to take several a year so we can see what fun things we have near us.
We have several top notch museums in Denver and you can take a tour of the Mint.
These are great tips!
Our favorite day trip would be to Hampton Beach NH we love the beach
Day trips in Tulsa can be for anything ranging from the Oklahoma Aquarium to a walking tour of our amazing collection of Art Deco architecture.
We have a number of lake & river beaches nearby that are fun to visit.
I like to take different day trips to the park and sometimes the museum.
We don’t take day trips, but these are great tips!
These day trip tips are very helpful. Thanks for sharing!